Sunday, December 18, 2011

Could Cameron be a secret 'Phile' rather than a 'Phobe'?

One of my Current Affairs class suggested class yesterday came up with an intriguing analysis of Cameron's veto. He reckoned it was to pre-empt a referendum, triggered by the treaty revision the draft Brussels treaty threatened. He did this to avoid a national vote which might have led UK out of the EU, an outcome Cameron devoutly wishes to avoid.

An interesting idea, likely to be dismissed by sceptics, but if the euro-rescue measures which caused all the fuss go down the tubes then this crisis will go on for months and the veto could well appear in retrospect to be a mere detail. Certainly the markets have not reacted positively to the plan- far from it. Greece still seems heading for an early bath from the euro and even France 's economic health has been challenged by the ratings agency S and P's suggestion that its triple A rating should be downgraded.

Like very serious politician, whatever he says in public, he knows that Britain's best place is inside the EU and influencing its development rather than outside on its fringes but still beholden to all of its rules.

About Me

I was born in the Welsh borderlands and grew up in Shrewsbury. Then to Aberystwyth University before working in the admin class of the civil service for a couple of unhappy years. Then got job at Manchester University which I loved. I became Director Extra-Mural Studies 1986-91 and then had a stroke while out jogging. Retired on medical grounds but still teach and write a good deal. Recently took up a part-time position in politics at Liverpool Hope University. Why Skipper? Legacy of captaining a post-graduate cricket team at university.